Section 5-708 - Meetings.

§ 5-708. Meetings.
 

(a)  Closed when discussing individual cases.- Meetings of the State Team and of local teams shall be closed to the public and not subject to Title 10, Subtitle 5 of the State Government Article when the State Team or local teams are discussing individual cases of child deaths. 

(b)  Public meetings - In general.- Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, meetings of the State Team and of local teams shall be open to the public and subject to Title 10, Subtitle 5 of the State Government Article when the State Team or local team is not discussing individual cases of child deaths. 

(c)  Public meetings - Prohibited disclosures.-  

(1) During a public meeting, information may not be disclosed that identifies: 

(i) A deceased child; 

(ii) A family member, guardian, or caretaker of a deceased child; 

(iii) An alleged or suspected perpetrator of abuse or neglect upon a child; or 

(iv) A child convicted of a crime or adjudicated as having committed a delinquent act that caused a death or near fatality. 

(2) During a public meeting, information may not be disclosed regarding the involvement of any agency with: 

(i) A deceased child; 

(ii) A family member, guardian, or caretaker of a deceased child; 

(iii) An alleged or suspected perpetrator of abuse or neglect upon a child; or 

(iv) A child convicted of a crime or adjudicated as having committed a delinquent act that caused a death or near fatality. 

(d)  Witnesses.- This section does not prohibit the State Team or a local team from requesting the attendance at a team meeting of a person who has information relevant to the team's exercise of its purpose and duties. 

(e)  Penalties.- Violation of this section is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or both. 
 

[1999, chs. 355, 356; 2007, ch. 264.]